Door-holding means and release



W. H. SMITH DooR HOLDING? MEANS AND RELEASE May 12,1931.

Filed Dec. 6. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l M114 :|1111 -1| ||l||| ||||1||||L ATTORNEY w. H. lSMITH 1,804,443

DOOR HOLDING MEANS AND RELEASE Filed Dec. e. 1929 4 Sheets-sheet 2 INVENTQR ATTORNEY May 12, 1931. w. ||.y sMn-H DQOR HOLDING MEANS AND`RELEASE Filed Dec. 6. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 12, 1931. w. H. sMnH 1,804,443vv DOR HOLDING MEANS AND RELEASE Filled Dec. e. 192.9 4 sheets-sheet 4 E s w g N E fr e .,e l

`N Y v NNNNNN OR TTTTTT F` Patented May 12, 1931 Unirse stares Parana ePrice-if IavALTER E; SMITH, oE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIerNoE, BY. MESNE As- SIGNMENTS, 'ro ELECTRIC SERVICE sPPLIEs COMPANY, 0E PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA, -A CC'EPORAT'IGN 0E PENNSYLVANIA Doon-HoLDING' MEANS, AND RELEASE Amacai-inn inea member e, ieee. serial No. nales.

, invention relates to door holding releasing apparatus, and more particularly, to a door holding" and releasing apparatus for usei-n conjunction 'with steaml railway pas-y sengerca'rs', electric railway passenger cars, locomotives and niotor vehicles'. -K

An important object of the invention is the provision ofV a means for holding the door in the open position Which will automatically become inoperative permitting the door to be closed under the influence of a suitable door closing( apparatus upon the operation of the motor control Which starts the car 'in an electrically operated car or upon the' operationofthe signal'Y system Which is used to notify the motorman' or engineman to start the car or trainp This action results in the doors being" closed at alltimes during the operation of the cars unless manually opened Whilethe c'ar is approaching a station Stop With 'power off. The above mentioned action in keepingthe door closed' ex'cept When approaching.' a station stop, results in conserving' the heat in the car and reducing the cost of operation thereof.

A rfurther object of the invention is the pifovi'sion ofk a structurev of this character Whichmay be Very readily applied to' car doors as novv 'constructed' Without in any manner alt'eringthe construction thereof and Without interfering With the operation of the door closers now employed thereon.

Still further object of the invention is" to provide in apparatus of this character means from which the door may be very readily' released in event it is desired to close the dooir during the time when the motive apparatus is not in use.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no Way limitativa and that While still keeping Within the scope ot" the yinvention, any `desired modification of details and proportions' may be made in the constri'lct'ion of the appliance accordingv to circumstances* The invention comprises further features combinationmof parts to be hereinafter' the drawings: *y M n Figure 1 1s a detail' plan View showing' 1n setforthpshovvn in the drawings and claimed.

solid lines adder in open position and h d by apparatusconstructed in accordance 'tin the invention, the door being illustrated in closed position in dotted lines.` d 1 l l1 igu're 2 isa detail sectional vievfv through the' electioina'gnet cons'tting the holding; means and the door carried armature. Y y Figu're is a plan vievvo'f a modified forni of armature 'constructed to facilitate the' clos"- ingof the door against the action of the` hold- Ing means. y W l n n y .Figure 4 is a front elevationof the'armature construction illustrated Figure Y Figure 5 a diagrammatic View villustrating onetype of control circuit Which may be employed for control of thel dooreholding' Vmeans in an electrically operated car;n

Figure 6 isa diagrammatic view illustra# ing a modified type ofcontrol ,circuiayvhere in a `i'nanually opkeratedfsxyitch may' be' presented .torl the' relay switch 85; Y

Ei'guref a diagrampshowing the application of the door ho'lding andreleasing means asv associated in conjunction With pneumatic or air pressure controlling' means for actuating opposed bell'ovvs for making and breakingth'e circuit to the magnet coil closing yand releasing means. Y l l Referring noivni'ore particularly tothe drawings, the rnumeral lO'generally "c lesig-- nates', a car'` `door normally maintained in closed position through a suitable apparatlas,` at present indicated as a door check 11o, In; accordance With the inventionfthere is se,- cured to a door`through a` s"u`itable bracket 12, an armatureelement 13 Which', When the door is moved into its open position; comesv into engagement With anel'e'ctromagn'et' 14 of suitable type supported from atca'r Wall 15".y

AThe armature employed is'fpreferably so mounted that its contact with the electroinag4- net is vcushioned and isl at. present illusitrated as secured: in lposition'upon a bolt lo' which is directed through v'an' xlapenture s17 :formed in the bracket and slidable'therein. It thefback ofthe bracket, stop and-lock nutSlSand are mounted upon the bolt and",

rounds the bolt. By this structure, the armature may yield after contact with the electromagnet, cushioning the shock occasioned by sudden engagement and preventing damagerto either the door or electromagnet when the door is carelessly opened. The pull of the electromagnet 14 when energized is sufficient to securely hold the door in open position and, at the same time, to permit the door to be moved to its closed position without the application of excessive strain thereto.

In order to facilitate movement of the door into closed position, the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4 may be employed if so desired. In these figures, the bolt 22 is extended through the bracket, upon which the armature is mounted, for a considerable distance and in addition to the spring 23, arranged between the bolt head and bracket, a spring 24 is arranged between the inner face of the bracket and a seat 25 abutting the stop and lock nuts 26, 27 through the medium of a contact plate 28. Upon the bracket is mounti ed a support 29 bearing suitably insulated conducting arms 30, each having a pivot pin.

31 arising therefrom upon which is mounted a contact arm 32, one end of which bears adjacent the associated contactor strip and the opposite end bears against contact plate It will be obvious that, by a construction of this character, when a pull is exerted upon the door to move it to closed position against the action of the electromagnet, spring 24 will yield, thus causing the contact arms 32 to withdraw from engagement with th-e contact plate 28 and interrupt the circuit therebetween, which will, of course, be a portion of the electromagnet circuit. The electromagnet circuit being thus broken, the electromagnet is deenergized thereby releasing the armature so that the door may be readily moved to its closed position. Electromagnets 14 may have vthe circuits thereof interlocked in any Asuitable manner with the motive power apparatus of the vehicle with which they are associated. In the present instance,`there is illustrated, in Figures 5 and 6, circuits suitable for use in connection with the electromagnets 14 when the vehicle is electrically operated.

Figure 5 represents diagrammatically one type of circuit within which is incorporated that form of the present invention as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it being understood, of course, that this circuit is employed in connection with electrically operated cars or trains. It will be observed that this circuit includes the usual feed wire 33 leading from the car or train controller to the motor thereof, neither of which is shown in the drawings. The circuit for energizing the electromagnet 14 is designated as 34 and includes a relay switch or interlock 35, the latter being operative to open or close the electromagnet circuit 34 to thereby effect deenergization or energization of the electromagnet 14.

Included in circuit with the feed wire 33 is an electromagnet or solenoid 36 which is designed upon energization thereof to open the switch or interlock 35 and so effect deenergization of the electromagnet 14. Since current only passes through the feed wire 33 lwhen the motor is in operation and the vehicle in motion, it will be evident that during such movement of the vehicle under power the solenoid 36 will be operative to interrupt the circuit and eiiiect deenergization of the electromagnet 14. In consequence of this, the electromagnet 14 is rendered ineffective to maintain the door in open position against the action of the closing means 11.

However, when the power is shut olf and the vehicle is merely coasting, the circuit 34 remains closed and the electromagnet 14 is energized, in consequence of which the door may be maintained in open position against the action of the closing means 11 associated therewith. A shunt 38 having a manually operable switch 39 may be connected across the terminals of the switch or interlock 35 such that when the switch 39 is closed the electromagnet 14 may be energized to hold the door in open position against the action of the closing device 11 and while the vehicle `is moving under power. y

Figure 6 represents diagrammatically a i numeral 24.

It will be understood that the terminals 32 are normally bridged by the element 28 in such manner as not to interrupt the circuit 34 when the latter is closed by the solenoid 36 or the manually operable switch 39. The electromagnet 14 would thus be energized and the door 10 held in open position. When it is desired, however, to close the door while the vehicle is at rest or is coast-ing without power (in which event the circuit 34 would normally be closed at 35), it is merely necessary toy pull the door in a direction away from the electromagnet 14 to an extent sufficient to compress the spring 24 and cause the contact arms 32 (in Figure 6, the terminals 32') to withdraw from engagement with the contact plate 28 (in Figure 6, the bridging element 28), the result being to break the circuit 34 between the contact arms 32 and so effect deenergization of the electromagnet 14. v The door 10 is the-n free to move into closed position under the action of the closing device 11.

Figure 7 illustrates more or less diagrammatically an arrangement for controlling the energization of the electromagnet 14 in va vehicle employing a pneumatic or other fluid pressure circuit. included in this latter circuit is a train signal pipe 40 which is in communication with opposite ends of a pair of alined bellows 41 and 42. The pipe 40 is connected to the bellows 41 by way of the pipes 43 and 44 and to the bellows 42 by way of the pipes 43 and 45. 1t will be noted that the proximate ends of the bellows are interconnected by a stem 52 having fixed thereto a contact plate 53, it being further noted that the volumetric capacity of the bellows 42 is greater than that of the bellows 41. When pressure is applied to the bellows 41 and 42 the contact plate 53 assumes the position shown in Figure 7 so as to bridge the terminals 54 of the electromagnet circuit 34 to permitenergization of the electromagnet 14.

Provided within the pipe 45 is a restricted orifice 51 which prevents a rapid escape of the compressed i'iuid contained within the bellows 42. Connected int-o the signal pipe. 40 is a pressure release device 48, such as an audible conductors signal, which is operable by means of the signal cord 49. Obviously, when the cord 49 is pulled the device 48V is rendered operative to permit the escape of compressed fluid from within the bellows 41 and 42. Inasmuch as the fluid escapes much more rapidly from the bellows 41 than from the bellows 42 the pressureexerted upon opposite sides of the contact plate 53 isunbalanced to an extent sufficient to cause the plate to move awayfrom the terminals 54 and so interrupt the circuit 34. The electromagnet 14 is thus deenergized and the door 10 is permitted to close automatically as the signal cord is operated to start the train. It is usual to include an automatic check valve 46 and a manually operated valve 47 in the pipe line 43, one of said valves being connected in shunt with respect to the o-ther.

It will be understood, of course, that the invention as hereinbefore described and the applications thereof may be varie-d as desired within wide limits and that various changes and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the general principle or real spirit of the invention. 1t is accordingly intended to claim the invention broadly,

as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. In combination, a vehicle having a door, closing means associated with the door, electromagnetic means for maintaining the door in open position against the action of the closing means, a circuit for said electromagnetic'means,fand meansvopenin-g thecircuit In combination a vehicle having a door, l

closing means associated with the door, means for holding the door' in: open position against the action ofi the closingv means and means renderingfthe holding means inoperative when the vehicle is in motion, and means permitting said door to` be forcibly released from said holding means. upon the applica.,- tion of apredetermined. strain; .to the: door;

4. In. conibination, a vehicle-havin a-door, closing means associ-ated with the door, an electromagnetic means for maintaining the door in open position against .the action of the closing means, a circuit for said electro-l magnetic means, anda switch: operable upon application of a predetermined strain to the door for opening, the kcircuit of the yelectromagnetic means thereby effecting` therelease;

of the door..l f

5. In combination,` a vehicle having a door, closing means associated with-the` door,l an electromagnetic means for maintaining the door` inv open. position.A aga-instI the action. of4 the closing means,- 'a circuit for said'. electromagnetic means, a; switch operable-upon'application of a predetermined .strainl to the door for openingthe. circuit of the electro,- magnetic means thereby effecting the. rele'afsei ofthe door, and means for opening the circuit.V of the electromagnetic, means when the vehicle isi-in motion, whereby to automatically render.' said electromagnetic means inoperative-to.maintain said door in open position. l Y

6.v In.. combination with vafdoor,.a support 'adjacent the door, an electromagnetfupon the support, a bracket carried by the door., and an. armature for engagement :with electromagnetic means yieldable mounted uponV the bracket. i i

7., The combination with a swinging closure, a support adjacent the closure wheninopen position, and electromagnetic means carried'by the support, an armature arrangedL for co-'action with;` the electromagnet carried. bv- ,the closure and yiel'dable thereonjto abserb the shockof contacting engagement with the electromagnet, said closure vbeing additionally yieldable with respect to said: armature under influence of a pull tension whereby kto separate the arma-ture from the electromagnet, anda switch operable by said yielding movementoftheclosure to eectdeenergization of said electromagnetic means.

8. In combination, a vehicle having a door,

closing means associated with the door, an

sor`

electromagnetic means for maintaining the door in open position against the action of the closing means, a circuit for said electromagnetic means, and means operative upon the application of a predetermined strain to the door for opening the circuit of the electromagnetic means thereby effecting the release of the door.

9. The combination With a swinging closure,vasupport adjacent the closure when in open position, electromagnetic means carried vby the support, and an armature arranged for coaction with the electromagnetic means carried bythe closure, said armature being yieldably mounted to absorb the shock of contacting engagement With the electromagnet. Y

10. In combination, a vehicle having a inovably f mounted closure, means tending normally to move said closure to a predetermined position, and means controlled automatically by the operation ofthe vehicle to prevent said closure 'from being maintained in a position other'than said predetermined position. n

l1. In combination, a vehicle yhaving a movably mounted closure, means tending normally to move said closure toward a given position, means operative to hold said closure in a dierent position against the action of said closure moving means, and mea-ns for rendering said closure holding `means ineffective during the operation of said vehicle.

l2. In combination With a movable closure, electromagnetic means operatively associated With said closure for holding the latter in a given position, and means for rendering said electromagnetic means inoperative.

v13. In combination With a movable closure, electromagnetic means operatively associated with said closure for holding the latter in a given position, means tendingk to move said closure out of said given position against the action of said electromagnetic means, and means for rendering said latter means ineffective to hold the closure in said given position under predetermined conditions.

14. In combination, a vehicle having a.

movable closure, means operatively associated with said closure for holding the latter in a given position, means tending to move said closure out of said given position against the action of said holding means, and means operative automatically upon starting said vehicle in kmotion to render said holding means ineffective and place said closure under the sole influence of said closure moving means.

In testimony whereof he aixes his signature.

WALTER H. SMITH. 

